In the world of pageantry, where traditional beauty standards often dominate, VogueStar emerges as a groundbreaking platform that celebrates inclusivity, authenticity, and empowerment. Founded by the visionary Kirti Choudhary, VogueStar is redefining the landscape by creating a safe and inspiring space for women aged 18 to 70. Unlike conventional pageants, VogueStar focuses on talent, passion, and individuality, encouraging participants to embrace their unique qualities and challenge societal norms. Through its revolutionary approach, VogueStar has become a beacon of empowerment, fostering resilience and unity among women from diverse backgrounds.
What inspired you to create VogueStar, and how does it differ from traditional pageant platforms in terms of inclusivity and empowerment?
VogueStar Horizons seeks to redefine the essence of pageantry by honoring authenticity, originality, and inclusivity. We want to provide a secure and empowering environment for women aged 18 to 70, where they can freely express themselves, challenge society standards, and embrace their distinctive qualities. At VogueStar, the journey is about motivating women to realize their full potential, build substantial relationships, and then leverage their accomplishments to lead and make a positive difference.
What distinguishes VogueStar is our unwavering commitment to diversity and community-building. Unlike traditional pageant platforms, we do not evaluate participants based on physical characteristics like height, weight, or age, nor do we consider their financial standing. Instead, we value talent, enthusiasm, and authenticity, as demonstrated by amazing participants such as Shreepa Rani, Mrs. Eternal Beauty VogueStar India 2023 (G-2), and Anjali Chauhan, who were recognized for their dedication and uniqueness.
VogueStar, the first all-female pageant platform, offers a secure and friendly atmosphere, smashing down traditional modeling barriers and offering national and pan-India opportunities without imposing conventional constraints. We want to empower women from all areas of life by promoting resilience, togetherness, and self-expression.
VogueStar is more than just a competition; it’s a revolutionary platform that promotes inclusivity and opportunity, allowing women to thrive, inspire, and create meaningful change in their communities. It’s our way of celebrating womanhood in its most authentic and powerful form.
Can you share a particularly memorable success story or milestone from VogueStar that encapsulates its mission to honor and empower women?
One of VogueStar’s most rewarding achievements has been the ability to inspire and empower thousands of women from various walks of life. Each year, we focus our mentorship programs on teaching participants important skills including ramp walking, public speaking, and styling. These programs are intended not only to increase women’s confidence, but also to help them reach their greatest potential in all aspects of life. Empowerment, to us, is about more than just accolades; it’s about transformation and offering tools for success.
This year was particularly remarkable as the inauguration of our first ever panel discussion took place, VogueStar Icons and Insights Soirée. The evening included a stellar lineup of women, including Mrs. World Sargam Koushal, Miss Tourism India Asmita Chakraborty, Mrs. VogueStar India Season 2 winners Anjali Rathee and Rashmi Kashyap, and visionaries Sudha Chandani Khatri and Archana Surana. The talk, themed “Beneath the Glossy: Real Stories, Real Strengths,” focused on resilience, honesty, and the journey of embracing one’s true self.
This event reflects VogueStar’s aim of recognizing women’s voices and celebrating their diversity. It highlighted the ability of shared tales to inspire and uplift others. At VogueStar, milestones like this underline our dedication to building a platform where women not only shine but also use their stories to spark change and inspire the next generation.
Having worked across diverse fields like HR, luxury marketing, and even politics, how have these experiences shaped your vision and leadership at VogueStar?
My diversified backgrounds in human resources, luxury marketing, and politics have helped shape my leadership at VogueStar. In HR, I gained an extensive understanding of the significance of nurturing talent and creating environments where individuals can flourish. This philosophy has guided my efforts to create an inclusive and uplifting platform for women.
In luxury marketing, I learned how to create a brand that embodies aspiration, authenticity, and excellence. This experience helped me build VogueStar into a platform that not only honors women but also upholds the greatest levels of ethics and empowerment.
Politics, on the other hand, has increased my understanding of the challenges that women confront, particularly in a world which often marginalizes their opinions. It prompted me to develop a forum focused on true support, progress, and empowerment rather than competition. It inspired my desire to create a community that empowers women and celebrates their unique abilities.
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My mission is to help women become the best versions of themselves by giving them the tools and resources they need to thrive and inspire others. This vision is what motivates me every day to lead with purpose and create a lasting positive impact for women everywhere.
What challenges have you faced in transforming the pageant industry, and how has your team’s all-women composition contributed to overcoming them?
Transforming the pageant industry has offered its own set of challenges, particularly in transforming strongly entrenched views of beauty and redefining success. Traditionally, pageantry has been associated with physical beauty, but at VogueStar, we’ve worked hard to move the emphasis to originality, passion, and talent. This development has required a reinvention of the sector, and also the task of fostering trust and support across varied communities has been both challenging and rewarding.
Our team’s all-women composition has helped us overcome these challenges. Our shared experiences as women help us understand the challenges that many women encounter, fostering an environment of understanding and support. This has allowed us to approach the transformation with authenticity and genuine worries for our participants’ well-being.
Furthermore, our team’s diversified skills has resulted in a well-rounded approach to all aspects of VogueStar, from grooming to event execution. We bring a diversity of perspectives, ensuring that we meet the needs of each individual participant. This collaborative spirit, embodying the true essence of women supporting women, has been critical to our success.
What is your long-term vision for VogueStar, and how do you see it evolving to continue challenging conventional beauty standards and fostering empowerment?
The overarching objective for VogueStar is to establish a secure, inclusive environment in which women can embrace their real selves. Over the next decade, we hope to establish VogueStar as a global symbol of empowerment and guidance, supporting women from all walks of life in realising and unlocking their full potential.
Beyond creating opportunities in India, our purpose is to inspire and empower women around the world, encouraging them to be confident and embrace what makes them unique. At VogueStar, earning a crown is more than just an accomplishment; it’s the start of a journey. It provides a chance for women to inspire, lead, and make a significant difference in their communities and beyond.
Our legacy will be determined by the transformation of every woman who joins our community. As we continue to challenge conventional beauty standards, we hope to develop an empowering culture in which success is evaluated by the strength, confidence, and authenticity that every participant brings to the world, rather than their appearance. By doing so, we aim to leave a lasting impression that will inspire future generations of women to recognize their true selves and break free from societal restraints.
